Joyce was last seen in Lexington, Kentucky at 7:15 p.m. on October 27, 2002. She she she was going to visit her estranged husband, Bill Crider Jr., at the Holiday Inn on Athens-Boonesboro Road, where he lived. She never returned. Joyce left behind all her belongings, including her knee brace and her dogs. Her car, a dark green 1993 Nissan Infiniti G20 with Kentucky license plates numbered 035-DKD, disappeared with her. It was found, covered with snow, in a parking lot on Winchester Road in December 2002, six weeks after she vanished. There were indications that someone other than Joyce drove the vehicle to that location.

Joyce was having personal problems at the time she disappeared. She and her husband were in the process of a divorce, which was finalized in 2003. Joyce's home and all its contents had been destroyed in a gas explosion the year she disappeared, her husband's truck had caught fire and was ruined, one her dogs had died suddenly, and the Criders were involved in several lawsuits. Bill said Joyce became depressed after their house was destroyed and threatened to commit suicide. She sought medical assistance and was prescribed medication. Her attorney and her loved ones stated she was in good spirits at the time of her disappearance and looking forward to getting on with her life.

Bill is Joyce's second husband; her first marriage, in 1998, lasted only four months. A photo of him is posted below this case summary. The Criders' divorce was acrimonious and there was a court order prohibiting them from contacting each other. Joyce disappeared the day before she was scheduled to give a deposition in the divorce case; she was allegedly going to implicate her husband in insurance fraud. Bill admitted he initially lied about when he last saw Joyce. He's considered a person of interest in Joyce's disappearance. Police began searching his property several times looking for her remains. He maintains his innocence in her case and stated he had proof that Joyce was still alive. He was arrested for drug trafficking and weapons charges in 2010; authorities stated he'd been running a drug ring out of the pawnshop he manages.

Joyce was taking a course in medical transcription at the time of her disappearance. She has previously done clerical work for various retail stores. Her hobbies include watching movies and collecting dolls and clowns. Joyce's bank accounts and cellular phone have been inactive since her disappearance. Her case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected. She was declared legally dead in November 2009.

Above: Bill Crider